⚡ In short
- SpellTable is the official platform from Wizards of the Coast that allows you to play with your real, physical cards via a webcam — but it requires some setup.
- EDHPlay is a free, fan-made simulator in your browser: no camera, no physical cards needed, just log in and play.
- For a regular playgroup that wants to play online quickly, EDHPlay is by far the easiest choice.
- If you really want the feel of paper Magic with your own deck? Then SpellTable is the only real option.
- Both platforms are completely free and require no download.
Our regular Commander group plays online regularly — and after trying out multiple platforms, we've settled on EDHPlay as our playgroup. But I notice that many other Commander players only know SpellTable, or vice versa. You can't compare these two tools quickly, as they do something fundamentally different. In this article, I'll explain exactly what the difference is, when to use which, and what our group's own experience has been.
What is SpellTable?
SpellTable was launched in 2020 — in the middle of the lockdowns — to allow Commander players to play online with their own physical cards. The concept: everyone points a webcam at their play area, and the software streams those images to the other players. AI-powered card recognition allows other players to click on cards they can't read clearly to get a better view.
In August 2021, SpellTable was acquired by Wizards of the Coast themselves. It has since become the official platform for online paper Magic. You log in with your free WotC account (the same as MTG Arena) and you can start playing right away — provided you have the setup ready.
💡 You can reach Spelltable at: spelltable.wizards.com — no app, just your browser.
How does SpellTable work in practice?
You place a webcam or smartphone diagonally above your play area — preferably as directly from above as possible, so that card recognition works well. That sounds simple, but this is immediately the biggest hurdle: a laptop's built-in camera won't work, because you can't point it downwards. You need an external webcam, or a phone that you can hang above your table with an arm or tripod.
For audio, Wizards themselves recommend using Discord — SpellTable's built-in voice chat is "clunky and unreliable," as multiple sources describe. This means you'll need to have a Discord session open in addition to SpellTable. Furthermore, lighting and sleeves are a point: glossy sleeves reflect light and make card recognition difficult. A matte playmat and good, even lighting are essentially a requirement for a pleasant experience.
What is EDHPlay?
EDHPlay (edhplay.com) is an independent, fan-made platform that works completely differently: it's a digital simulator. No webcam, no physical cards, no camera arm needed. You import your decklist (from Moxfield, Archidekt, or simply copy-paste), and you play with digital card images in a shared game window. Everyone sees the same board — tap, untap, create tokens, track counters — it all works via right-clicks and buttons in the interface.
The software is completely free, runs in your browser without a download, and supports up to six players per game. Cards are up-to-date (the database is maintained), and you can perform a wide range of actions via right-click: send cards to exile, return commander to the command zone, create tokens from a specific card, track damage. It's not a full rules simulation that automatically enforces everything — you do that yourself, just like at the table — but the interface is intuitive enough to move smoothly through your turns.
💡 SpellArmory Tip: EDHPlay imports decklists directly from Moxfield links. Just build your deck online on Moxfield (free), copy the URL, and paste it into EDHPlay — done. You don't need to add cards manually.
Comparison of key points
| Component | EDHPlay | SpellTable |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Completely free | Completely free |
| Download needed? | No — browser | No — browser |
| Account needed? | Optional (for saving decks) | Yes — WotC account (free) |
| Physical cards needed? | No | Yes |
| Webcam / camera needed? | No | Yes (+ good lighting) |
| First-time setup time | ~5–10 minutes | 30 minutes to an hour |
| Max. players | 6 | 4 (standard) |
| Deck builder | Built-in + import | None — you use your physical deck |
| Tokens & counters | Digital creation via menu | Manage physically yourself |
| Voice chat | Not built-in — use Discord | Built-in, but Discord recommended |
| Card recognition AI | N/A | Yes (varies in effectiveness) |
| Proxies / test decks possible? | Yes — any deck can be built for free | Limited — proxies are a readability problem |
| Official WotC product? | No — fan-made | Yes — owned by Wizards |
| Support / updates | Active community, Discord | Wizards of the Coast |
Fair pros and cons
EDHPlay
✔ Pros
- Ready to play in 5 minutes — no setup hassle
- No camera, lighting, or special equipment needed
- You can test any deck, even cards you don't own
- Digital tokens and counters — no physical clutter
- Up to 6 players — ideal for larger pods
- Deck import from Moxfield works flawlessly
- Connection issues are minimal (no video stream)
- Cards are always readable — no lighting/glare issues
✘ Cons
- No rules enforcement — you track everything yourself
- You miss the feeling of holding real cards
- Less well-known than SpellTable
- Fan project: no guarantee of eternal support
SpellTable
✔ Pros
- You play with your real, physical cards
- Official WotC product — stable and well-supported
- Card recognition AI for quick card lookup
- Large community — easy to find strangers via Discord
- Good for players who rarely play online but want to use their own deck
✘ Cons
- Camera arm or tripod is practically mandatory (laptop webcam doesn't work)
- Good lighting is crucial — not every play environment is suitable
- Glossy sleeves cause glare and unreadable cards
- Built-in voice chat works poorly — you still need Discord
- Video stream increases the chance of connection issues
- You still track tokens, counters, and life yourself, physically
- Maximum 4 players by default
- Card recognition doesn't always work with proxies or certain lighting conditions
Our experience as a playgroup
We tried both extensively — and the choice for EDHPlay was quickly made. The biggest practical problem with SpellTable is the setup: not everyone has a camera arm, and even with a phone as a webcam, you need something to hold it above your play area. Then there's the lighting — especially for those who play in the evening, which is the case for most playgroups. Glossy sleeves and table lamps are a nightmare for card recognition.
The result: even before the first round of play begins, you're already spending ten to fifteen minutes adjusting someone's camera, setting up a Discord call alongside SpellTable, and trying to read what that one stacked card in the corner of the board actually is. That eats into the fun of playing.
EDHPlay solves all those frustrations at once. Everyone imports their deck from Moxfield, you open a game link in the Discord server, and you play. Create tokens? Right-click on the card. Track Commander damage? It's in the life counter. Card hard to read? Not applicable — everyone sees the same digital version. We're always at the table within five minutes.
💡 The only thing you really miss: the feeling of holding your physical cards. If you're a collector and proud of your beautiful foil Command Tower — you won't see it in EDHPlay. For those who prefer to play smoothly rather than show off their cards, that's a fair trade.
When to choose which?
Choose EDHPlay if...
- You want to play online with a fixed playgroup — quickly, without hassle.
- You want to test decks before physically building them.
- Not everyone in the group has or wants to buy a camera setup.
- You want to have more than 4 players at the table.
- Connection stability is important (no video stream).
Choose SpellTable if...
- You specifically want to play with your own physical deck — including that one alternative art you just acquired.
- You want to find an unfamiliar opponent outside your regular group — the SpellTable community is large.
- You set up once correctly and then repeat quickly.
- Official support and a stable platform in the long term weigh more heavily for you.
The two are not mutually exclusive, by the way: we use EDHPlay for our weekly regular games and SpellTable occasionally if someone specifically wants to play with a newly acquired physical deck, or if we want to play with people outside our group.
Playing online is fun — but nothing beats the real table.
At SpellArmory, you'll find sealed products for your next physical deck: from boosters to accessories, delivered quickly from Maastricht. Free pickup by appointment is also available.
Read also:
- Commander (EDH) Explained: The format for casual games
- How to build your first Commander deck
- Playing MTG in Maastricht & Limburg
- The best MTG resources and creators
Written by Omèr Cremers
Owner of SpellArmory, social worker, and full-time father. Avid MTG player and collector from Maastricht — Commander is my favorite format. Questions about which product suits you? Feel free to send me a message.